Over 50,000 U.S. Troops Participate in War on Iran

(MENAFN) More than 50,000 troops, 200 fighter jets, and two aircraft carriers are engaged in coordinated US-Israeli military strikes against Iran, US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Gen. Brad Cooper confirmed Tuesday — describing the operation as the most significant American military mobilization in the Middle East in decades.

Speaking in a video address, Gen. Cooper said the offensive, now entering its fourth day, has seen US and Israeli forces strike close to 2,000 targets inside Iran, deploying in excess of 2,000 munitions since hostilities commenced.

Tehran has mounted a fierce counteroffensive in response, firing more than 500 ballistic missiles and upward of 2,000 drones at US and allied positions, according to Cooper.

"We are also sinking the Iranian Navy, the entire navy. Thus far, we've destroyed 17 Iranian ships," he said.

Despite the scale of Iran's retaliation, Cooper said the Islamic Republic's capacity to threaten US forces and regional partners is being progressively degraded.

The campaign was launched Saturday, when US and Israeli forces initiated sweeping strikes across Iran that killed nearly 800 people — among them Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military commanders — sharply escalating an already volatile regional crisis.

Iran has since directed drone and missile attacks against both Israel and Gulf states hosting US military installations. CENTCOM confirmed that six American service members were killed and several more wounded after an Iranian strike hit a tactical operations center in Kuwait.

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